Improvement in post-hole augers



Paten'td Aug. 22. 1 876.

In at 72 327* Ii-FETERS. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. I C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFrcE.

LUKE B. HITGHCOOK, OF FILLMORE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN POS T-HOLE AUGE RS.

Spe ifics tion forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,264, dated August 22, 1876; application filed July 24, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUKE R. HITOHOOGK,

of Fillmore, county of Allegany, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Post-Hole Angers, of which plan view of the locking device.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts.

This invention relates to that class of posthole augers in which the points of the blades can be adjusted toward or from each other as desired; and the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

b care the two blades of the post-hole auger, secured respectively to' the arms B G. The blades b c are so arranged that the edges thereof project to the right and left, so that one of the edges of each blade will out the earth as the anger is turned around, and the arms B O are bent so that the points of the blades will incline toward each other. The arms B Care also bent nearly at right angles just above the blades, and pivoted to each other at G, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so that the points of the blades can be moved toward or from each other, as desired. The arm B of the blade b is rigidly secured to a curved bar or handle, A, at or near its center, by means of bolts and nuts a a. The arm 0 of the blade 0 is provided on its upper end with 'a ferrule, D, which nearly encircles the bar or handle A, whereby the bar or handle A and arm B can bemoved in either direction from the arm 0, and rigidly secured in place by a pivoted cam-lever, E. The cam-lever E is secured to an arm on the top of the ferrule, and the ferrule is provided with a slot, cl, through which the cam works against the bar or handle A. H is abar rigidly secured to the arm 0 by a hasp, h, and pivoted at its lower end with'said arm 0 to the arm B at G. This bar H extends above the curved bar or handle A,

and is so bent that theT-shaped handle secured on the upper end thereof will come directly over the bar or handle A. The handle F is ad j ustably secured to the bar H by means of a thumb-screw, f.

Fig. 3 shows a short handle, which is to be substituted for the curved bar or handle A when it is desired to bore a deep hole. From the foregoing description it will be perceived that the point of the blade b can be moved towardor from the point of the blade 0 by merely moving the curved bar or handle -A and arm B toward or from the arm G, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. '2. By this means the auger can be usedupon any kind of soil. For instance, indry sand the blades can be compressed together after they have been inserted in the ground, so that the sand will not drop out when the anger is removed; and in damp earth or clay the points of the blades can be readily thrown apart, so that the earth or clay will fall outat'ter the anger is removed from the ground. i

It will also be observed that in adjusting the blades toward or from each other the auger will make a smaller or larger hole, as desired, which in a full-sized auger will make a hole from six to ten inches in diameter.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the arm and blade A O c and ferrule D, of the arm and blade B b and curved bar or handle A, substantially as and forth'e purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the arm and blade B 12, having curved bar or handle A, and arm and blade 0 0, having ferrule D, of the pivoted cam E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the arms and blades B O b c, of the bar H and handle F, the several parts constructed and arranged to operate in the manner substantially as and for the- I purpose specified.

LUKE R. HITOHOOOK. Witnesses:

J. E. FRANKLIN, H. M. HowDEN. 

